DRDO to Hand Over Sonar Dome to Defence Minister

DRDO to Hand Over Sonar Dome to Defence Minister

Goa will have its own proud moments during the prestigious Defexpo being held at Quitol, Goa apart from hosting the mega event first time outside Delhi.

A huge bow mounted Sonar Dome designed & developed by Research & Development Establishment (Engineers) [R&DE(E)], a DRDO laboratory based in Pune is going to be flagged off by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar, Secretary Department of Defence (R&D) & DG DRDO Dr. S. Christopher will also be present on this important occasion. The ceremony will be held at Defexpo site in Goa on March 29, 2016. The Sonar dome will be delivered to Mazgaon Docks, Mumbai.

The Sonar Dome, a first of its kind in the country has been manufactured by a composites manufacturing company in India. This is a huge contribution by Indian Industry to the ‘Make in India’ movement. Only a couple of companies worldwide have the capability of realising such structures.

All anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships have a sonar array fitted to the ship structure below the waterline. The sonar functions as the ship’s underwater eyes and ears. The sonar dome is a structure fitted over the sonar array so that its electronics and sensors are not exposed to surrounding hostile environment. The sonar dome has to be structurally sound as well as acoustically transparent.

R&DE(E), DRDO, Pune has successfully developed process technologies to realise large composite structures that can be used in Naval ships & submarines. The Laboratory has also developed technologies related Integral Composite Armour that can be used in Combat Vehicles. The Laboratory is also significantly contributing in development of aerospace structures. NPOL, a DRDO Laboratory at Kochi played a significant role in development of the Sonar Dome.

It is prudent to mention that Composite Material Technologies relevant to Indigenously developed Missiles have already been well established.

DRDO is also fielding Live Demonstration of number of Systems with Cutting Edge Technologies for the first time in Defexpo.

SONAR from DRDO

Sonar dome is a protective cover to sonar equipment of surface war ships. The dome is designed to house sonar array, and to maximize the performance of the array by reducing the effects of noise of water turbulence and protecting the array from wave slamming, minor collisions etc. In the design of sonar dome, both structural and acoustic considerations come into play.

Typical structural constraints may include the deformation of the structure under steady external flow, accelerations, slamming loads and shock loads. From an acoustic stand point of view, the goal is to maximize the fidelity of incoming sound by ensuring that the self-noise and flow induced noise can be inherently minimized. 

The current sonar domes in advanced composites bring additional benefits for strength and acoustic performance, extending the ability of the vessel to locate, evade and engage hostile environments. The sonar dome is mounted at the bow of the ship.

R&DE(E) has developed design, analysis and manufacturing capabilities of composite sonar domes. A typical dome consists of stiffeners, acoustic window area (acoustically transparent region), baffle plate, and flange with gasket for water tight connection of the dome to ship. Acoustic window area is a composite-rubber sandwich construction. Lifting hooks are provided for handling dome during handling and fitting.

R&DE(E) has established two manufacturing processes, Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) and Resin Film Infusion (RFI) for realization of large composite structures. Either of them can be used for realization of composite sonar dome. Both the processes require mold for realization of a structure. Since RFI is a high temperature curing process, it requires oven for curing or a heating system embedded in the mold. Whereas, VARTM can be a room temperature curing process, hence may not require any oven or heating system for curing.

To realize sonar dome, male or female mold may be used depending on factors like dimensional accuracy, surface finish, ease of lay-up, demolding etc. Type of mould shall be chosen depending on the merits and demerits of the process and finished product requirements.

In VARTM process, vacuum and resin points are provided for creating vacuum and sending resin into dry fabric, respectively. These points are decided based on guidelines obtained from process modeling and flow simulation studies. In VARTM process, resin is sucked under vacuum and it flows into the dry fabric until it is saturated with resin.

To monitor resin flow online in complex regions, a process monitoring system is also available which can be deployed wherever necessary. After resin infusion, job is allowed to cure at room temperature for 24 hr then the job is demolded. Thus the complete design to manufacturing know-how of composite sonar dome is available with R&DE(E) and can be transferred to interested industry partner for commercial use.

This technology is ready for ToT to Indian Industry for supply of domes to Indian Navy/ Indian Armed Forces/ Other Govt. Agencies only.

DRDO to Bring Alive Spirit of ‘Make In India’ at Defexpo 2016

DRDO to Bring Alive Spirit of ‘Make In India’ at Defexpo 2016

The display of state-of-the-art military systems and technologies by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) will narrate the saga of self-reliance & national pride with “Make in India” spirit in Defence Expo 2016 during 28th-31st March at Goa.

Hon’ble RakshaMantri Shri Manohar Parrikar will inaugurate the ninth edition of this biennial Land, Naval and Internal Homeland Security Systems Exhibition, on 28th March 2016 at NaqueriQuitol in Quepem Taluka of South Goa.

This year the design theme of DRDO Pavilion is “Rise of Futurism”. DRDO Futurism emphasises its vision to make India prosperous by establishing world class science and technology base and provide our Defence Services decisive edge by equipping them with internationally competitive systems and solutions.

DRDO’s participation in this event is marked with the live demo of star products for first the time at Defexpo which includes Airborne Early Warning & Control System (AEW&C), Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Arjun MBT MK II & I, Wheeled Armoured Platform (WHAP), AKASH Air Defence System, Pinaka the Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System, Radars, BLT T-72, Bridging System Sarvatra, Modular Bridge and Mountain Foot Bridge etc., besides, 

Static display of other attractive outdoor exhibits such as Quick Deployable Mobile Communication Terminal; Aslesha, Bharani and Coastal Surveillance Radars (CSR); MRSAM and Nirbhay launcher; Pinaka launcher & Rocket Mk I & Mk II; Advanced Torpedo Defence System (ATDS), Remotely Operated Vehicle Daksh, etc.

The indoor models and exhibits covers nearly the entire gamut of R&D from aeronautics, armaments & combat engineering, missiles, electronics and communication systems, materials, naval systems, life sciences, micro-electronic devices and computational systems.

Some indoor exhibits includes: Model of Akash and Brahmos missiles; Aslesha, Bharani and SWATHI the Weapon Locating Radar, IR Guided Missile Tester, Laser Guided Bomb Kit Tester, Hand-held Stand-off Explosive Detector, Short Range Laser Dazzler, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Nakshatra the Aerostat System, Combat Free Fall System, Biotoilet model, Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) model, Multimode Hand Grenade, Family of small Arms, Sonars and Torpedoes, Night Vision and Microwave Devices, Bullet Proof Jacket, Robotics & Unmanned Systems, Telemedicine, Ready to Eat Food Technologies etc.

DRDO Press Conference addressed by Dr S Christopher, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Director General, DRDO will be held during 1000 hr _ 1100 hr on Tuesday,

the 29th March 2016 at Def-Expo venue in Goa.

Focusing on “Make in India” and “Self-Reliance”, the DRDO participation will provide a platform for collaboration with industry and academia. DRDO has amply demonstrated capability to design, develop and realize highly complex multidisciplinary weapon platforms for Army, Navy and Air force. These systems are among the most extensively evaluated systems in harsh environmental conditions, meeting stringent quality requirements of our services.

With the aim of ‘Make in India’, DRDO’s is participating in this event for fruitful collaboration with various industry and research institute towards indigenous development of defence systems and platforms.

DRDO welcomes one and all to its pavilion to get a first-hand account of Nation’s capabilities in the area of advanced defence technologies and opportunity to share the pride of the vibrant DRDO community.

- PIB

Delay in Providing Bullet-Proof Jackets for Army

Delay in Providing Bullet-Proof Jackets for Army

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) in October, 2009 for capital procurement of Bullet Proof Jackets (BPJs) inclusive of quantity 1,86,138 to be procured in 11th Army Plan. Request for Proposal was retracted on 5.10.2015 as the BPJs fielded by the vendors failed in the trials. 

Capital Procurement of equipment for the defence forces are progressed as per the provisions of Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP). The DPP provides timelines for different stages of procurement.

The Government has taken into consideration the deficiencies in some of the critical ammunitions and has taken steps to mitigate the deficiencies to ensure desired level of operational-preparedness commensurate to threat perception in a dynamic strategic scenario.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Vijay Jawaharlal Darda in Rajya Sabha today. 

- PTI

In detail about the Bullet proof jackets  - Urgency : Bullet proof vests for Soldiers

Achievements made by DRDO

Achievements made by DRDO

    Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is a Mission Mode Organisation, which is primarily engaged in design and development of strategic, complex and security sensitive systems for the Armed Forces. DRDO has developed number of systems/products/ technologies, a large number of which have already been productionised. 

The value of systems/products/technologies developed by DRDO and inducted into Services or in the process of induction stands at over Rs. 1,90,000 Crore. 

These include combat vehicles; missiles; multi-barrel rocket launcher; unmanned aerial vehicles; radars; electronic warfare systems; sonars; torpedos; bridging systems; combat aircraft; sensors; NBC technologies; parachutes; combat free fall systems; propellants and explosives; detonators; communication systems; armaments systems; cyber systems, etc.

These are helpful in the long run for the country to achieve self-reliance in defence sector.

Some of the major products/systems developed by DRDO and accepted/inducted by Armed Forces are:

Platforms:

• · Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’
• · Remotely Piloted Vehicle ‘Nishant’
• · Pilotless Target Aircraft ‘Lakshya-I’
• · Main Battle Tank ‘Arjun Mk-I’
• · Armoured Amphibious Dozer Mk-I
• · Armoured Engineer Recce Vehicle
• · NBC Recce Vehicle
• · Bridging Systems ‘Sarvatra’

Sensors:

• · Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C)
• · Integrated Sonar System for EKM Submarine.
• · Hull Mounted Sonar.
• · Short Range Battle Field Surveillance Radar
• · Weapon Locating Radar ‘Swathi’
• · 3D Low Level Light Weight Radar ‘Aslesha’ Mk-I
• · 3D Surveillance Radar ‘Revathi’
• · Electronic Warfare System for Navy ‘Sangraha’
• · Electronic Warfare System for Army ‘Samyukta’
• · Electronic Warfare System ‘Divya Drishti’
• · Electronic Support Measure ‘Varuna’
• · Commander’s Thermal Imager Mk-II for T-72, T-90 and BMP tanks
• · Holographic Sights for Small Weapons

Weapon Systems:

• · Akash Weapon System
• · Prithvi Missile for Army and Air Force
• · Supersonic Cruise Missile ‘BrahMos’
• · Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System ‘Pinaka’ Mk-I
• · Torpedo Advanced Light
• · Heavy Weight Ship Launched Torpedo ‘Varunastra’

Soldier Support Systems:

• · Computerised Pilot Selection System for Indian Air Force
• · Telemedicine System for Navy
• · Submarine Escape Suit
• · Flame Retardant Gloves
• · NBC products

   DRDO has been making all possible efforts to increase indigenous content in DRDO products. The percentage of import content in some of the major DRDO systems are given below:

System	Import Content (in %)
Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) System (excluding Aircraft)	16
Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA), Lakshya	5- 7
Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV), Nishant	10
Aircraft Arrester Barrier	5
Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)	40
Combat Free Fall System	35
Parachutes	0
Heavy Drop System	10
Agni Missile	15
Prithvi Missile	15
Akash Missile	10
Nag Missile	30
Supersonic Cruise Missile, BrahMos	65
Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LR-SAM)	60
Multi Barrel Rocket System-Pinaka	10
MBT Arjun	55
Radars	10
Electronic Warfare Systems	5– 30
Sonars	5- 30
Pocket Dosimeter	12
Portable Dose Rate Meter	9
Roentegnometer	6
NBC Recce Vehicle	5

- PTI

Update on AMCA

Update on AMCA

   AMCA is another project to develop a medium weight combat aircraft, which having fifth generation capabilities like active sensor and processing systems, internal weapon carriage capability, precision strike capability and invisible to enemy radars. The AMCA work initiated in early 2012 with the estimated project completion time of 2025.

    The Indian Navy too joined with the AMCA project with air force and other Indian state owned, Private aviation sectors and  electric companies to build and assist the AMCA project. Foreign collaboration also sought for this project, since crucial hardware's like radar and engines comes from abroad only.

    The AMCA preliminary design was changed several times, to adopt new model engines, Radar's and long range missiles. Like how the A 10 developed to carry the GAU 8 Avenger cannon. The AMCA also developed to carry multi national equipment's like Missiles, Radar's and Engines.

     Currently more than 4000 employers assigned into the AMCA project,where they extracted from ADA, DRDO, HAL and some other leading private companies. The AMCA team identified three major technical works. Which are Thrust vectoring, super cruise Engines, Active radar's and other processing system and the radar absorbent material.

Engine

   India asks for a joint development of fifth generation engines with foreign nations. It's reported India might need more than 2000 plus Engines for AMCA. India already has initiated a Engine project named Kaveri. India wants the new engine who powers the AMCA must be based on the Kaveri. In response many foreign nations responded for the Joint Engine development program.

   Currently three countries tries to seal the AMCA engine development program. US, France and England offers their known engine companies like General Electric, Snecma  and Rolls Royce respectively. GE from America offered engine development based on the F 414 engine, and the Snecma announced the M 88 engine who powers the Rafale and the Rolls Royce also offered the EJ 200 engine for joint development with Kaveri.

   As per last known reports, US company General Electric leads in the program. who already supplying F 404 engines for LCA Tejas. GE also set ups manufacturing plants in India to produce aviation engines in India.

Radar

    As same like every other fifth generation fighters, The AMCA too hosts superior avionics and sensor suites. The AMCA hosts new generation GaN based AESA for superior detection and performance. Currently there is no fighter jets has GaN based AESA radars. However many ground based radar available with GaN transceiver modules.

    Some information's reported that, state owned LRDE is initiated a project to develop a small size air borne X band GaN based AESA radar for AMCA. LRDE already shows a model of AESA radar in last years Aero India exhibition. However the Uttam is not good for fifth generation fighters like AMCA.

     It's reported earlier that, India and Israel working for a joint project to develop a GaN based AESA for fighter jets. However due to the importance of the program the information's are highly classified. It's clear the Radar too be a joint venture between either US or Israel.

Sensor

    The infrared based systems like IRST, missile warning systems, laser warning system also added internally in the AMCA. The IRST sensors are placed in all sides of the AMCA to provide full angle coverage like in Rafale and F 35. The proposed IRST system is work similar to the F 35's EOTS who shares the information's to friendly units like via the satellite and highly secured data links.

   AMCA also comes with self protection jammer system to jam enemy radar guided missiles from both air and ground. electronic counter measure systems to confuse the infrared guided missiles and a radar warning receiver too added to detect enemy radar frequency's.

The Senor suites in AMCA led by the LRDE and BEL which include many private and foreign contributes.

    It's Reported the AMCA will be ready by early 2020 or before and HAL starts flying the first flight of fully developed AMCA by 2021. with the initial low rate initial production by 2024. And the air force gets the first AMCA squad by 2025. If all things goes per schedule

Repeated BMD tests, Validating Reliability

Repeated BMD tests, Validating Reliability

   DRDO all set to test fire the home grown advanced air defense missile also known as the Ashwin Ballistic missile interceptor. Under the two tier missile defense the AAD act as endo atmospheric interceptor the other PDV is exo atmosphere interceptor, AAD is the second layer of defense. Ashwin can intercept ballistic missile's once they enter the earth's atmosphere. The maximum interception altitude of AAD is upto some thirty kilometers.

    So far the Ashwin test fired nine times, which include live interception firings and missile validation tests, Only one test was went wrong, another time the team identified a small problem in the missile further cancelled the launch. The 90% of success rate shows the AAD is better in terms of reliability and over all performance.

     The live fire tests previously conducted against Pritvi ballistic missile mimicking as hostile missile, So far three live fire tests were conducted against Pritvi missile and one against electronic simulated targets. Other five tests were missile validation trails, which include validating the seeker, missile's agility and design improvements.

    This time also DRDO gearing up for a live missile interception against an Pritvi missile. Last time DRDO shows the Ashwin Missile as canister-ed variant, Similar like other BMD missiles like S 400 and PAC 3. Ashwin comes with three cell VLS mobile launching system. So this time it's believed DRDO will shows the complete operational version of  Ahswin missile configuration.

    Ashwin is designed with onboard active radar seeker and a hit to Kill vehicle, The HTK vehicle will hit the enemy missile by kinetically destroying it, The other mechanism used for interception is spraying the fragments into enemy missiles. However the Kinetic kill is more complex and assures hundred percentage destruction of enemy missile in the air.

     Ashwin is guided by the long range radar, The upgraded Israeli Swordfish radar can capable to track targets upto some 1500 kilometers. The LRTR can track the incoming ballistic missile as well as guide the Ashwin to intercept the enemy missile at pre-calculated altitude. Once the Ashwin comes close to the Enemy missile, the seeker in the Ashwin will activated then Ashwin itself work as autonomous search and track system and guide the HTK to the enemy missiles. By destroying the missile in Mid air.

     Under this Phase One series, Both the Endo Atmospheric Aswin AAD and Exo Atmospheric Prtivi Air defense PAD is already tested in various parameters. However the program almost delayed more than five years since the actual deployment schedule time is 2012. Due to the issues in seeker the Program is delayed till now.

    The Phase 2 ballistic missile Interception program is also taking shape. The Phase two system is long range missile interceptor similar to the SM 3 system for intercepting long range ballistic missiles or the IRBM's. India also have plans to deploy a similar system based on THAAD, which comprises missiles for intercepting enemy SRBM, and IRBM.

    India also planned for Long range surface to air missile based on the Ashwin variant whose engagement range upto some 120 kilometers. Investing the billions of dollars in the S 400 system, India may open more funds to DRDO to speed up and mature the home grown BMD program.

Rustom 2 Drone L&T Joins with DRDO

Rustom 2 Drone L&T Joins with DRDO 

   State run DRDO shares Rustom 2 armed drone technology with leading private player L&T to build, modernize and export [ if government approved ] Ingeniously made armed version of Rustom 2 drone, L&T already invested in the Rustom 2 development program, the desi Predator drone. Army, Air force and Navy already shown interested in the armed drone, expecting first batch orders of some 75 units, DRDO and L&T plans to complete all trails before 2017, and mass produce those units along with another private partner Taneja aerospace and aviation limited.

     DRDO fast tracks the Rustom 2 Project, In this years Aero India they signed many contracts with  state owned companies like BEL and HAL, for integration and ground control systems. later another contract signed with TAAL for fuselage building and now, they signed another contract with L&T for aerial target systems and training equipment. DRDO plans to build two different variant of Rustom 2, one is the reconnaissance variant another is the armed variant. both carry similar payloads, while one comes with improved surveillance systems as payloads, and another version comes with 350 kg payload of air to surface bombs or missiles.

    DRDO planned to build six prototypes, two models for each Army, Air force and Navy variants. It's reported DRDO and TAAL demonstrating Rustom 2's capabilities to navy. The Navy is the first customer to earlier variant of Rustom 1, who is using most desi projects. Army too asking DRDO to demonstrate Rustom 2's capabilities. Army plans to procure more than 20 units in first phase, and planning for more later. Air force isn't hurry since due to the delay of Rustom 2, Airforce singed a contract with Israeli company to supply ten IAI Eitan armed drones. It's suspected that Air force Rustom 2 comes with large modification of Israeli systems with increased payload.

    Rustom 2 is designed to perform attack missions by flying low and meantime fly high for long time surveillance. high altitude drones fly longer time than other aircraft, due to it's weight, engine power and  Speed. to maintain long flights the drones must fly above the commercial air traffic line to evade any confrontations with civilian planes. still no information available about the Rustom 2's flying altitude, however it's believed it can fly above some 40,000 feet.

    Also DRDO signed a agreement with state owned VRDE - Vehicle research and Development Establishment to produce engines which will be used in the Rustom 2. VRDE and private player Mahindra already signed a contract to jointly build a 200 HP engine. So it's clear all the Rustom 2 drones comes with indigenous engine. in April 2014 DRDO successfully completed the ground trails of the engine with Rustom 2 supported by HAL.

   As of March 2015 only two Rustom 2 prototypes developed. it's believed they build more in coming days with the support of Taneja. However there is  no information about the Rustom 2's combat range. it's believed Rustom 2 will fly more than six hours, with the speed of some 300 kilometers, and the combat radius of  900 kilometers.

   Rustom 2 can carry 350 kg of weapons, mostly desi made Helina anti armor missiles in quad pack, or two 100 kg guided bombs, mostly laser guided LGB's. it's hard to achieve launching the Spice glide bombs since it needed guidance from on board aircraft, DRDO's Defence Electronics Application Laboratory provides all critical data links connecting the drones and control center, using secure satellite data link. It's expected the Rustom 2 will be inducted into the forces after 2017.

Rise of the BrahMos - The brainchild of APJ Abdul Kalam; Part-I

BrahMos Cruise Missile - The Finest cruise missile system

BrahMos being reading for validation fire; Source - DRDO

   Currently the world’s fastest cruise missile and capable of decimating targets with pin-point accuracy, this missile system is uninterceptable when fired in a salvo. The missile is the most feared among the western countries, for the NATO is yet to find a way to counter it. Which is the missile so potent to break NATO’s interceptor systems? It’s none other than the BrahMos jointly developed by the true magicians of missile technology, India and Russia. BrahMos is just not a missile system, but a tech demonstrator, an exhibit for joint venture’s between nations.

    But how was an ambitious and ahead of time project like BrahMos constituted? The roots of BrahMos lie within the success of it’s closest competitor the legendary ‘Tomahawk missiles’ but how? How was such a futuristic project influenced by its rival design and success? It was soon after the success of American forces in the gulf war, India realized the importance of a cruise missile. The top brains of DRDO, was very mesmerized with the success of ‘Tomahawk’ in annihilating, Saddam’s Iraq forces. India had a close call, when the 7th fleet ‘Task force’ of the US navy had lurked in its backyard during the 1971 war. The day was saved only after India's long-time ally, Russia fielded its nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines across Indian coasts. Had the '7th fleet'/'Task force' launched the 'Tomahawk', India would have been a sitting duck waiting to be squashed. Hence a program was constituted by India’s celebrated missile scientist ‘APJ Abdul Kalam’, to arm the nation with cruise missiles.

    Kalam, DG, DRDO considered developing an advanced delivery system that would be extremely accurate and at the same time extremely cost effective, so the program design headed towards a cruise missile delivery system. Things gather pace as, Kalam roped in his colleague and the former pilot of India’s futuristic IGMDP project, Sivanthanu Pillai to head the design and development of the program. The very main aim of the program was to develop a cruise missile delivery system, which was far more superior to the Tomahawk missile systems. Various options were considered to make the system superior but the answer was simple ‘fasten the missile system’. Faster the missile travels, the more ground can be covered in shorter span of time and thus crippling the response time of the enemies.

INS Kolkata D-63 firing BrahMos missile off Karwar; Source - Net

     Increasing the speed was one part, but India had to first master the technology of developing a basic delivery system for the program to evolve. The process of developing the system would mandate, Indian scientists to cross through various technological hurdles. Kalam the then Scientific advisor for the PM was worried about the time-frame that would be required to develop a delivery system and also the influence on the project by India’s political crisis. Kalam using his unmatchable managerial skills, considered the option of setting up a private company which would work far away from the influence of the political circles thus speeding up the time-frame. The next to address was the technological barriers, there was the strict MTCR clauses meaning India could not look at foreign support but to develop the system indigenously.

    The then Program Director (PD) Sivanthanu Pillai for a non-existent program of India, would travel to Moscow for meeting NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM) officials in regard to the Akash SAM systems which were being developed with NPOM. Pillai writes it was during one such meet that BrahMos matured, the topic in discussion was the success of Tomahawk cruise missiles in the gulf war. Pillai then put forward, India’s interest in acquiring a supersonic cruise missile system, responding spontaneously to Pillai’s quest, NPOM officials threw light towards the existence of a liquid propellant Ramjet engine. Developed in the collapsing years of the Soviet Union the Ramjet engines could propel the delivery systems to supersonic speeds. With the Soviet Union collapsing and economical crunches, the development was halted and the engine technology written off.

BrahMos Block - III being test fired; Source - ForceIndia

   Pillai arriving to India, informed his boss, Abdul Kalam about the existence of a propulsion system,incidentally this was the missing part in India’s quest to master the cruise missile technology. Kalam then informed the higher ranks of the government and soon a hotline for negotiations with the Russians was opened. Pillai again visited Moscow, and met H. Yefremov, the then director general of NPOM when presented with the idea of co-developing a missile, it is learnt Yefremov was enchanted and agreed for a ToT of the propulsion systems. From here on, Yefremov took every possible way to get a JV sanctioned for co-development of the missile system. Finally the governments cleared the decks for the development of a missile system and Indian’s were shown the Ramjet engines which was promising to change India’s missile arsenal. A Joint Venture (JV) was being worked upon when the program received a major blow, Russia rejected to provide any financial assistance for the program. The program was valued at around US $1500 million, a 50-50 JV was India’s goal but Russia rejected the idea, quoting its technological assistance for the program. Pillai and his team continued negotiations with the Russians and finally pulled in a US $250 million initial investment from the Russians.

   The project still lacked money and given India’s financial condition, any more demand would signal the closure of the program itself. The program hit a deadlock and work seized, but Kalam and Pillai continued their negotiations relentlessly, an ‘out of the box’ idea provided by then Indian ambassador to Russia, Satinder K. Lambah saved the project. India at that time was returning debts worth billions of ruble to Russians, Mr. Satinder proposed a retrospective idea of India investing the remaining US $500 million of Russia’s investment. The same would then deduced in India's share of debt amount owed to Russia. Even though the idea was cheered by NPOM and DRDO, fierce uproar by Russian Finance ministry saw the near scrapping of the program. But the savior angel, stepped in the form of the then Russian deputy defense minister N V Mikhailov. Mr. Mikhailov fought at the highest possible level to get the project cleared and made sure the project saw the light.

   On February 12th 1998, APJ Abdul Kalam and the then Russian deputy defense minister N V Mikhailov, signed an inter-governmental agreement paving for BrahMos aerospace. BrahMos is simply the portmanteau of the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.  BrahMos aerospace came into solid existence with, DRDO acquiring 50.5 % share and NPOM holding 49.5% share. The work final started in March 1999 with, Russian government and Indian government releasing US $123 and US $127 million respectively for the project. Working under the JV, NPOM was to deliver the missile system and DRDO was responsible for the developing the crucial guidance and control systems, software packages and electronics systems for the missile.

Article by - Karthik Kakoor

Star wars weapons from DRDO

Star wars weapons from DRDO

While New technologies are emerging across the Globe, DRDO also mulls it's team to study and materialize modern projects like Direct Energy weapons, for this two special area's taken first one is the Laser another is Railgun, where DRDO already involved both projects in earlier, but due to lack of technological expertises and fund they forced to close the Projects, But now again the Researchers digging shelved direct energy weapon projects.

At first they plans to concentrate on the heavy pulse gun projects, which means a huge particle accelerator can accelerate electrons at high speed, like a example of  very high voltage of current suddenly pass through any electric equipments, the same earlier known as the KALI, KALI means Kilo ampere linear injector, which can produce heavy pulses, that helps the electrons to travel faster and impact the target with powerful electrons, Earlier KALI was jointly developed by the DRDO and BARC.

India planned to use the pulse generator to kill enemy ballistic missiles and aircrafts by destroying it's electronic circuits with the use of highly powerful electron pulses, most missiles and aircrafts runs with bunch of circuit boards and chips, the electronic parts controls the entire airborne systems, if even an one small circuit boards fails the entire system will fall, with the powerful KALI series the Pulses can travel much longer distance to kill enemy long range missiles.

Currently most of the Anti ballistic or Anti air missiles uses kinetic energy to destroy the enemy missiles, some uses the direct kill technology, some uses a Hit and kill vehicle to launch small multiple fragments to destroy the missiles in flight, but most of the Ballistic missiles comes with good defensive systems which can spoof anti missiles, mainly electronic jammer and by deploying decoys, but the same can't work against the Directed energy weapons, no one can spoof the directed weapons, like the pulses and lighting. the pluses travel straight line and impact any disturbing objects and kills it's circuits with high voltage of electrons.

Earlier versions of KALI produces 0.4 gigawatt's of power and accelerate it into more than 1 gigawatt's. with one pulses in each 40 nano seconds, the Pulses travels at the frequency of 3-5 G Hz. and those devices are used for single shots, means only one shot can be fired then takes time to ready for another round of emission, also the systems need more than 12,000 liters of oil to cools the accelerator.

So the new systems can continuously accelerate electrons and requires lesser power and  weights less than the previous systems, the KALI 10K weights more than 26 Tons, earlier DRDO planned to fit the Kali into a IL 76 Plane, but with heavy weight and recharge time forced the plan down, also they planned to use the KALI as a anti satellite weapons, but that one was not frozen, but can be used if war broken out with full force.

As DRDO said these cost effective Highly reliable systems can be weaponized in a decade and will be used in the Armed forces in a decade, means the electron accelerator will be ready before 2035.

Another major future project in the direct energy weapon field is the Electromagnetic rail guns, DRDO set this program as their second priority, the Railgun is something complex, like using a electromagnetic flux to accelerate a projectile, Simply a Projectile or Bullet can be placed in between a electromagnetic, with the high amount of flux produced by the Electromagnet will fire the projectile at high speed and longer range.

 Currently India has no working projects based on Electromagnetic  field, But it's believed DRDO can join hands with private companies to make a good rail gun. so far the American based General Electronic created a Railgun which can be  operationally deployed, can fire the projectiles at 30 Mega Jules.  

INS Kolkatha test fires Barak 8 soon

INS Kolkatha test fires Barak 8 soon

       The Long Range Surface Air Missile (LR-SAM) will be tested-fired in India, coming October. LRSAM, also known as Barak-8, being co-developed by India and Israel had already been successfully flight-tested against a flying target in Israel in November 2014. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have joined hands for developing LRSAM, which has a range of 70 km

       Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) V Udaya Bhaskar told defence journalists on the sidelines of the two-day Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing Summit (ADMS 2015) that the LRSAM project is moving in the ‘right direction.' "The programme has been going on for the last five to six years. The missile will have its Indian leg of trial in October. The current trials are for Navy and we will conduct parallel ground trials for the Air Force and Army variants as well," Udaya Bhaskar said.

        Mass production likely from next year He said BDL hopes to enter into mass production of LRSAMs from next year onwards, depending upon the outcome of the final trials. "There are a lot of tactical weapon requirements coming up. The success of Akash Weapon System (AWS) has given a big boost for indigenization for SAM (Surface to Air Missile) programmes," Udaya Bhaskar said.

       BDL presently has three manufacturing units situated in Hyderabad, Medak district (Telangana) and at Visakhapatnam (AP). The fourth unit is coming up in Amravati district of Maharashtra. "We plan to produce Very Short Range Air Defence Missile (VSHORAD) at the Amravati plant. The fifth unit is coming up in Ibrahimpatnam (Telangana) exclusively for SAM project.





       We are ready to join hands with private partners to take up high-end weapon systems," Udaya Bhaskar added. He said the current orderbook of BDL stood at in excess of Rs Rs 16000 crore. Adding more teeth to Indian Navy.

         DRDO officials had told OneIndia earlier that once cleared for operations, the LRSAMs will be fitted on the P-15 A Kolkata Class guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy. The missile's first ballistic flight test (short-range) was successfully conducted in Israel in May 2010. The first control navigation test of the missile was conducted in 2012. As per the original plan, initial short-range tests are to be held in Israel and the long-range ones in India.

The LRSAM project was sanctioned in January 2006 with an initial funding of Rs 2,606.02 crore.

 Article Published in One India

Wheelers Island - The home of India's Missile program

Wheelers Island -The launch site for India's Missile program

   

      A tiny island off the Orissa coast in the middle of the vast Bay of Bengal, the home of Indian military might, a place which has transformed into a world class missile range complex.  The island is the base for India’s mystical ‘Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP)’. An Island measuring around 2 kilometers in length and occupying more than 400 acres of land, the Wheeler’s Island is where India’s ambitious missile programs have taken course. It was in the early 1990’s that a team of leading scientists from DRDO started with the work of setting up a futuristic test range for supporting the nation’s ballistic missile program.

    The team was headed by the ‘Missile of India’, APJ Abdul Kalam a distinguished scientist under whom, India’s missile program had reached newer heights. The team also consisted of the celebrated missile scientists V K Saraswat and S K Salwan. With a need for dedicated military test range, the team zeroed in on a 160 square kilometre land mass close to the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) at Chandipur. But to setup a base at the desired location, the government was required to vacate nearly 130 villages with a consolidated population of well over 100000 people.

      The government faced a strong opposition from the villagers to relocate from the villages and in 1995 the government decided to drop the idea of setting up a base in Chandipur and began the search for alternative locations with very minimal habitation and far away main lands. An able team led by V K Sarawat and S K Salwan was putting in charge of locating the land which would be far away from the lime light of society thus negating any negative concerns about the facility.

     The team initially concentrated on setting up a test base at Pokran test range, integral test range for Indian forces. But this was soon rejected considering the effect to the safety of the range. The team then began a long and grueling search for a desolate Island along the Eastern coast. DRDO then sought the help of Navy which came with hydrographic maps of the islands across the Eastern coast. The team then soon set its sight on a group of desolate islands close to ITR, Chandipur. The Islands were in fact Shoals composed mainly of soil, sand pebbles giving the opt environment for a test range. The six islands were spread across the vast ocean and were around 70 kilometers from Chandipur.

     Armed with the accurate hydrograpic maps courtesy of the Indian navy and with a directional compass and minimal knowledge about the exact location of the islands, the range team comprising of S K Salwan and V K Saraswat, set off in the search of the desolate islands after hiring a fishing boat from Dhamra port. The group of Islands on the map were designated as Long Wheeler, Coconut Wheeler and Small Wheeler. The search for the Islands was extremely and continued for a while until the team concluded that the Islands were lost in eternity, the Wheeler Island was just not traceable. It was then the team consulted the local fishermen who were accustomed to the vast ocean.

     The local fishermen, the real navigator of these turbulent seas directed the team to an island they called 'Chandrachud'. The former president ‘APJ Kalam’ has fond memory of the discovery of ‘Chandrachud’ and recalls the day saying “By the time ‘Chandrachud’ was discovered, it was late in the evening. The boatman refused to move at night and the team had to stay in the boat the whole night counting the stars”. The determined efforts of the range team had paid off and but the search for ‘the Wheelers’ continued, the team then consulted the navy to reconfirm the bearings of the land-mass, the hydrographers had termed as six islands. The team was elated to know that they in fact had landed on the mysterious ‘Small Wheeler Island’.

      An experienced team from DRDO then shortly began the survey of the Islands for setting up the much required and ambitious test range. The primary concern for the team was the erosion of the fine sand the Island was based on, the team then forwarded the proposal of setting up a fully fledged test and research range at the Islands. The government cleared the project thus paving way for India’s missile range. To avoid the concern of erosion, DRDO built a vast seawall along the island peripherals. Without a dedicated logistical solution the construction of a base was considered an uphill task for the DRDO. Plans of setting up a dedicated airbase were discussed initially but were later dropped considering the hostile environment prevailing around the range. The main logistical to the islands is the shipping lane which takes care of all the hardware required for successful completion of missions.

     The island is the theater of action for the DRDO missile scientists who have propelled India to new heights with the latest missiles technologies. The Wheeler base is now known an integral part of all strategic missile programs of India and also has witnessed the launch of conventional missiles. The first missile to be first from the range is the Agni-I and Agni-II. The missile range has now evolved to a world class missile testing facility. The base has witnessed the development and launch of Agni I-V, Prithvi missiles, the AAD program, Nirbhay cruise missile, the mighty BrahMos, Nag Anti-tank missiles, Akash and Trishul Surface to Air Missiles (SAM).

       The base has 4 Launch Complexes (LC) which serve as the nerve center for all launch programs. The main launch site for the strategic missiles is the LC-IV, which was established recently to test long range ICBM’s and IRBM’s. India’s ambitious interceptor program, AAD has also been test fired from the Wheelers base. The base has the latest tracking systems, the base is equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance radars. The base also employs the latest Electro-optical tracking system, S-band tracking radar, C-band tracking radar and telemetry band systems. For closely monitoring the launch programs the base has the latest range computer, meteorological systems and to attain safe launches also has the most advanced safety system.

      The facility has been possible because of the determinations of India’s quest to master the latest missile technology. DRDO has set a massive step forward to make India ‘Missile import free’ by 2020 and has promised to make India an leading exporter in missile technology. India today has some of the deadliest and accurate missile system in its arsenal and the ‘Wheelers base’ has been a key part of every mission. India’s most celebrated missile scientists be it, ‘The missile men of India’ “APJ Abdul Kalam”, ‘The missile women of India’ “Tessy Thomas’ or V K Saraswat have their own share of stories to be narrated about the base. India is gearing up for testing an salvo of newest missile technologies and ‘Wheelers Island’ will be the launch site, DRDO will propel India’s strategic capabilities to greater heights in the coming years.

Article - Karthik Kakoor